Thrashing machine



J. J. LEE

THRASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 24. 1928 gwmnto'o Oct. 8, 1929. J. J. LEE- THRASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet h cfoimz J. le

gwventoz Oct. 8, 1929. J. J. LEE

THRASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 8, 1929. J; J. LEE

THRASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 24. 1928 Y grain from the view which will appear Patented Oct. 8,1929

- airs TAES PTENT oFFicE THRASHING MACHINE Application filed September 24, 192-8. SerialNo. 307,983.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for thrashing grain from straw, and the primary object of the invention is to eliminate some of the objectionable features of the present day method'of thrashing, and

effectthe thrashing and separation of the straw by breaking, blowing, throwing and beating the straw, rather than by stripping and shaking. 1

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a construction in which operating vibration and the general wear and tear of the machine will be minimized, thus stabilizing the machine as a whole when operated, obtaining more effective thrashing and separation of the grain from the straw, and prolonging the life of the machine.

A still further object is to provide a compact, comparatively inexpensive machine that is simple in construction and operation and adapted for separating the grain from the straw in a clean and workmanlike' manner.

Still another object is to provide a thrashing machine which will require a minimum amount of power for its operation, and which may be operated for a long continued. PBIlOd of time without liability of getting out of order or becoming choked with straw.

With the foregoing and other objects in as the nature of the invention better understood, the same consists in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed;

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a-vertical longitudinal section of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentaryhorizontal section on line 22 of Figure 1. 3

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the tine-carryingelements of the straw lifter.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 1 illustrating a slight modification of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the latter figure.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a further modification of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section on line 6- -6'of Figure 5.

- from the fan 13 will deliver the straw and Referring more in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates the body of the machine which may be of the usual portable nature and supported upon traction wheels, not shown, in the usual way. The body 5 is provided with the usual inlet or front feed opening as at 6, at the bottom of which is mounted an ordinary thrashing concave 7 cooperating with a thrashing cylinder 8 mounted thereabove upon a shaft 9. g 60 Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the concave 7 is a screen9 through which the grain may pass when freed from the straw as the latter is severed and fed rearwardly by the cylinder 8. Rigidly mounted at the rear edge of the screen 9 is a cross bar 10 havmg lingers 11 projecting upwardly and-rearwardly therefrom above the outlet of an overshot fan housing 12 which is arranged under the cross bar 10 and has a fan or blower 13 therein which is secured on a shaft 14. Carried by a shaft 15 above the fingers 11 is a transverse horizontal rotary breaker having outwardly pro'j ecting arms 16 adapted to pass downwardly between the fingers 11 so as to break the straw as it is received from the thrashing cylinder 8. The arms 16 are arranged so that only one of the same will pass between each pair of adjacent fingers 11, and said arms preferably are staggered so that the several sets of arms will pass between different ones of adjacent fingers 11 during each complete revolution of the breaker. This is illustrated with respect to one position of the breaker in Figure 2, and as the latter revolves in an anti-clockwise direction, it will aid the fan 13 in delivering the straw and grain rearwardly and upwardly.

Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the outlet of fan housing 12 is a straw rack 17 consisting of a plurality of spaced parallel bars suitably mounted at their forward lower ends upon aplatform 18 beneath the fingers 11 and projecting from said platform rearwardly beyond the rear ends of the fingers 11 and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined grain board 19 at the rear edgeof the platform 18. It is thus apparent that'the breaker and the blast of air grain rearwardly, the straw being carried upwardly along the rack 17 and the grain passing downwardly on the grain board 19 as it is detached from the straw by the operation of the breaker.

A further straw rack 20 extends rearwardly and downwardly from a point slightly above and rearwardly of the straw rack 17, and said straw rack 20 also consists of aplurality of spaced parallel bars mounted upon suitable cross bars 21 in the upper portion of the body 5. A rotary lifter or fork is mounted upon a transverse horizontal shaft 22 intermediate the adjacent ends of the straw racks 17 and 20, and this lifter consists of a plurality of disks 23 arranged in side by side relation and suitably secured upon the shaft 22, each disk 23 carrying a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly projecting and tangentially extending curved tines 241. The tine-carrying disks 23 are preferably disposed so that the tines of one are located intermediate the tines of adjacent disks 23. It is thus apparent that the tines 24 of alternate disks 23 will alternately pass between adjacent pairs of the bars forming the straw racks 17 and 20 at the adj acent ends of the latter. It is also noted that the lifter is rotated in a clockwise direction for throwing the straw upwardly from the rack 17 and rearwardly onto the rack 20, thereby loosening the straw while conveying it rearwardly and detaching further grain therefrom at a point rearwardly of the grain board 19. As the straw passes down on the rack 20, it is fed to a rotary beater 25 carried by a transverse horizontal shaft 26 at'the lower rear end of the rack 20 as shown. This beater is suitably rotated for beating the straw so as to detach further grain therefrom and at the same time deliver the straw rearwardly and out of the rear end of the housing 5 at 27 to the stacker, in a manner which will presently become apparent.

An undershot fan housing 23 is arranged beneath the concave 7, and extending rearwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the outlet of fan housing 28 is a grain floor 29 onto which the grain may fall from the screen 9 through the space 30 between the fan housings 12 and 28. The grain floor 29 extends beneath the fan housing 12 rearwardly beyond the grain board 19 so as to also receive the grain falling downwardly from the latter after passing through the rack 17. EX- te'nding rearwardly and upwardly from the rear end of the grain floor 29 is an inclined grain board 31 onto which the grain is blown from the grain floor 29 by the fan or blower 32 secured upon a shaft 33 within the housing 28. The grain board 31 extends upwardly beneath the straw rack 20 and the rotary beater 25 to the rear of the latter and to a point spaced slightly below the top of the housing 5 to define the outlet 27. It is thus apparent thatthe blast from the fan 32 will aid the beater 25 in discharging the straw through the outlet 27 to thestacker, the grain falling onto the grain board 31 from the beater 25 and the rack 20. I

The grain board 31 is divided transversely near its lower end and substantially directly beneath the beater 25 to provide a pair of sections between which is journaled a peripherally ribbed roller or cylinder 34 adapted to feed the grain from the grain board 31 downwardly beneath the latter onto a screen 35. The cylinder 3 1 is associated with guards 36 at the space between the sections of the inclined grain board 31 so as to permit the passage of the grain to the screen while preventing the blast of air from the fan 32 from freely passing downwardly between the sections of the grain board 31 at the point where the cylinder 34 is mounted. Theblast from the fan 32 isthus directed upwardly and rearerably arranged higher than the adjacent lower end of the section of the grain board 31 disposed at the rear side of cylinder 34, thus permitting the fans 13'and 32 to blow the grain to the cylinder 34, while permitting the grain to roll downwardly and forwardly on the section of the grain board 31 at the rear of the cylinder 34 to the latter. When the grain finds its way to the spaces between the ribs of the roller 34, it is positively trapped and delivered downwardly onto the screen 35 in an obvious manner. i

In the embodiments of the invention illus trated, means is provided for holding the straw out of contact with the grain board 31 beneath and to the rear of the beater 25 at all times, whereby choking of the machine will be prevented. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, this means consists of toothed boards or fish backs 37 arranged on the grain board 31 rearwardly of the cylinder 34 and extending between adjacent toothed disks of the beater 25. In this instance the beater 25 may be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, while the fish backs 37 will hold the straw out of contact with the adjacent portion of the grain board 31 so that the blast of airfrom the fan 32 Imay freely pass the beater and insure constant efficiency in the straw conveying and grain delivering and separating operation. It is free passage of grain from the heater to the the beater shaft 26 to the outlet 27 and above the rear upper end of the grain board 31 to hold the straw off of the latter.

In each embodiment of the invention the grain board 31 includes an upper hinged section which may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly relative to the beater 25 for most efficient operation under different conditions of use. In the embodiment of Figure 1' the hinged section is relatively large and embraces the part carrying the fish backs 37, while the hinged section 40 in Figure 4 is a small upper terminal of the grain board 31.

'This adjustment is desirable in order to secure most efiicient separation of grain without danger of clogging of the straw at the beater and outlet.

The screen 35 is of coarse mesh and mounted above a further screen 41 of finer mesh, both screens being arranged above a rearwardly and upwardly inclined grain pan 42 extending rearwardly from the bottom of the outlet of an undershot fan housing 43 arranged beneath the rear end of the grain floor 29. Carried by a shaft 44 within the housing 43 is a fan or blower 45 adapted to direct a blast of air rearwardly over the pan 42 and upwardly through the screens 41 and 35.

The chaff caught by the screen 35 is thus blown out of the rear end of the body 5 so as to permitthe free passage of the grain through the screen 35 onto the screen 41. Such further remaining chaff is then blown out to rear end of the body'from the screen 41 to allow the grain to pass through the latter onto the pan 42 and ultimately find its way into a transverse trough 46 provided at the lower forward end of the grain pan 42. The blast of air passing through the screen 41 from the fan 45 also delivers tailings from saidscreen 41 rearwardly into a further transverse trough 47 provided at the rear upper end of the grain pan 42. A screw conveyor 48 arranged in the trough 47 is utilized for conveying the tailings to one side of the machine so that they may be conveyed back to the inlet 6 of the machine by any suitable form of elevator as is well known in the art, the purpose being to pass these tailings through the machine again for separating any remaining grain therefrom. On the other hand, a screw conveyor 49 is arranged in the trough 46 to convey the clean grain in the trough 46 to one side of the machine for being sacked or otherwise disposed of.

From the above description, it will be seen that the straw and grain is submitted to blasts of air continuously while being broken, lifted and beaten by rotary elements'which aid in conveying the straw rearwardly, the blasts of air being relied upon considerably in causing the lifting and rearward travel of straw and the separation and collection of grain. Fur thermore, no reciprocating and other objectionable vibration-causing parts are utilized, such as will cause considerable wear and tear and involve the expenditure of considerable power for their operation. Still further, the present invention provides for effectively breaking, turning and lifting the straw as it is conveyed through the machine thereby giving an opportunity for the blasts of air to have full effect in the grain separating operation -so that the work is accomplished in a clean and workmanlike manner.

It will be understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiments of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of said invention.

In the construction of Figures 5 and 6, the straw rack 17 extends from the bottom of the outlet of an under-shot fan housing 12 within which is arranged a fan or blower 13 secured on a shaft 14*. It will also be noted that the rotary breaker consists in a spiked cylinder, while the rack 20 is dispensed with and a rack 20 is provided on the grain floor .29 to hold the straw off of the latter as it passes rearwardly to the beater'25. The rack 2O consists of a plurality of longitudinally disposed spaced parallel bars or fish backs 50 which extend from the grain board 19 to the beater 25 and provide passagestherebetween into which the detached grain may readily fall for being freely blown rearwardly to the cylinder 34 by means of the fan or blower 32. The fan 32 is secured on a shaft 33 within an over-shot housing 28 having the grain floor 29 extending rearwardly from the bottom of the outlet thereof. When the air passes from the housing 28 and between the bars 50, it expands upwardly to have a lifting and loosening action on the straw, thus assisting in detaching further grain.

Guard straps 51 are preferably fastened on the upper edges of the bars of rack 17 and disposed over shafts 22 between adjacent sets of the tines 24 ofthe rotary lifter. Arranged under the rear end of the grain floor 29 is a cross bar 52 having vertical openings through which the lower end portions of the'ourved bars 39' extend, and bolted to the front side of the cross bar 52 is a strip 53 having openings in which are received the forwardly directed lower terminals 54 of said bars 39 p In this way the bars 39 are rigidly mounted in place without liability of turning in or moving through the openings ofthe cross bar 52. Obviously, the bars 39*, located at the meeting point between the rear ends of the bars 50 and the teeth of beater 25 and extending upwardly and rearwardly over the beater shaft 26, prevent the straw from passing to cylinder 34- as well as hold it off of the grain board 31 so as to permit free passage of air and detached grain. Otherwise, the structure and operation of the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 is substantially the same as that of the Figures 1 and 4:.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a thrashing machine, the combination with a thrashing cylinder and concave, of rotary means to receive the thrashed grain and straw from the concave and subject it to successive breaking, lifting and beating operations in the order named, means to subject the straw to a rearward blast of air in passing from the breaking to the lifting means, a grain floor extending beneath the breaking and lifting means and terminating in a rearwardly and upwardly extending inclined grain board arranged beneath and extending rearwardly of the bearing means, grain collection means in the inclined grain board beneath the beating means, means for producing a. rearward blast of air along the grain floor for delivering the grain to said collection means and for blowing the straw rearwardly from the beating means, said grain collection means embodying a peripherally ribbed cylinder ournaled between sections of the grain board for preventing the blast of air from said last-named air blast means from passing below the grain board, screening means below the grain collection means, and a blower associated with said screening means.

2. In a thrashing machine, a grain floor terminating at its rear end in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined grain board having grain collection means near its forward lower end, means to subject thrashed grain and straw to breaking and lifting operations above the grain floor, means to subject the straw to a blast of air while passing from the breaking to the lifting means and at a point elevated above the grain floor, and means to direct a rearward blast of air along the grain floor for delivering the grain freed from the straw during the breaking and lifting operations rearwardly to the grain collection means.

elevated above the grain floor, means to direct a rearward blast of a1r along the gram floor for delivering the grain freed from the straw during the breaking and lifting op erations rearwardly to the grain collection grain collection means near its forward lower end, means to subject thrashed grain and straw to breaking and lifting operations above the grain floor, means to subject the straw to a blast of air while passing from the breaking to the lifting means and at a point elevated above the grain floor, means to direct a rearward blast of air along the grain floor for delivering the grain freed fromthe straw during the breaking and lifting operations rearwardly to the grain collection means, rotary beating means for operating upon the straw after being delivered upwardly and rearwardly by said lifter for freeing further grain from the straw onto the inclined grain board rearwardly of said grain collection means, said means for-directing a blast of air rearwardly along the grain floor being arranged to further cause a blast of air upwardly along the inclined grain board between the beater and the latter for discharging the straw rearwardly from the beater. I

5. In a thrashing machine, a grain floor terminating at its rear end in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined grain board having grain collection means near its forward lower end, means to subject thrashed grain and straw to breaking and lifting operations above the grain floor, means to subject the straw to a blast of air while passing from the breaking to the lifting means and, at a point elevated above the grain floor, means to direct a rearward blast of air along the grain floor for delivering the grain freed from the straw during the breaking and lifting operations rearwardly to the grain collection means, rotary beating means for operating upon the straw after being delivered upward ly and rearwardly by said lifter for freeing further grain from the straw ontothe inclined grain board rearwardly of saidgrain V collection means, said means for directing a blast of air rearwardly aiong the grain floor being arranged to further cause a blast of air upwardly along the inclined grain board between the beater and the latter for discharging the straw rearwardly from the beater, and means to maintain the straw upwardly from the grain board while passing between the latter and the beater.

In testimony whereof I affix' my signature.

JOHN J. LEE; 

